Marshall Powers Eagles in Split Against Akron

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

AKRON, Ohio — After yesterday’s series-opening game was postponed, the Eastern Michigan University and the University of Akron baseball teams squared-off in doubleheader action today, April 5, at Lee Jackson Field in Akron, Ohio. The Eagles suffered their first Mid-American Conference loss of the season in game one, falling 6-2, but made up for it in the second game behind the ninth inning heroics of Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason), winning 5-4.

After the doubleheader split, the Eagles now stand at 6-19, 4-1 MAC, while the Zips move to 13-9, 1-1 MAC. After falling 6-2 in the opening game, the Eagles fought back in the top of the ninth to win game two 5-4, powered behind Marshall’s second homerun of the game.

Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) and Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) led the Eagles in the 6-2 losing effort in game one. Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) tripled to left center to start the game and was driven in by Leonard’s single up the middle, giving EMU a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first.

After Akron tied the game in the bottom half of the first frame, the Eagles offense went back to work in the third with Leonard and Bradshaw again leading the way. After his second single of the game, Leonard stole second and later scored on a Bradshaw single. Unfortunately, the lead did not last long as the Zips tied the game in the fourth at 2-2 before scoring two in both the fifth and eighth innings to seal the game at 6-2.

Sophomore Kevin Sikora (Youngstown, Ohio-Boardman) pitched five innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs in the loss; his second of the year.

The Green and White struck first in game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on Marshall’s two-run bomb to left-center. Akron bounced back in the bottom half of the second, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 3-0 lead. UA tacked on one more in the third, extending its lead to 4-2.

After spotting the Zips four runs through the first three innings, junior Sean Hoffman (Midland, Mich.-Midland) buckled down, allowing just two hits over the next three and a third innings. Hoffman totaled seven and a third innings pitched, yielding seven hits and four earned runs while striking out five in the no decision.

Senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) cut the deficit to one at 4-3 with a solo homerun to left-field to lead off the sixth inning.

Down 4-3 in the ninth, Marshall knotted the score at 4-4 with his second homerun of the game, a solo shot over the left-field wall. Jeff Davis’ (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) pinch hit single to right-field drove in Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) for the go-ahead run. Sophomore Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) kept the Zips in check in the ninth for the save, his second of the year. Senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena) (2-3) was credited with the win, pitching two-thirds of an inning, not allowing a hit.

The Eagles and Zips conclude their weekend series tomorrow at Lee Jackson Field the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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